By The ARTnews Recommends Editors

No matter where you are photographing, there’s almost always going to be some element of light that is not ideal. Overhead sunlight can be too harsh and cast unwanted shadows; shade can make images look less dynamic. Indoors, it can be even tougher to get light to hit your subject just as you want. Even if you’re using studio lighting, it can be very helpful to invest in some photo reflectors, which give you much more control over light sources. These handy sheets come in all kinds of colors, but the most popular are reflective silver, white to produce a softer light, gold to add warmth, and black to subtract light. Best of all, reflectors can help to significantly reduce your editing time.

For avid photographers who are often on the go and like to have many reflectors at the ready, Selens’ collapsible reflectors are worth every penny. Lightweight but sturdy, these tools are easy to hold and switch out. Their oblong shape also makes them great for group shots and more demanding photo shoots. You get one translucent disc, which diffuses light and also serves as a support structure for the four reflectors. These come in white, silver, black, and gold. Once done, the pieces fold into a third of their size and slip into a carry bag. You also get a reflector holder that can be used to clip each reflector to a tripod stand.

Foleto’s folding reflector might just be the ticket if you’re looking to purchase reliable light control for product photography. Made of a reflective board just 0.1-inch thick, it resembles an open card and can stand freely while you shoot. One side has two white panels, while the other side has one black panel and one silver panel. Depending on how you position the board, you can easily reflect, fill in, diffuse, soften, or block light. Plus, once you’re done with it, it barely takes up space in storage.

This five-in-one set can’t match the solid construction and durability of Selens reflectors, but it does offer a great variety of effects at a more affordable price. You get a diffuser as well as the four good-quality common reflective surfaces—silver, gold, white, and black. Note that these are dual-sided: black and gold share one flap, and white and silver share the other; pull the covers over the diffuser disk to set up. This means that, if you tend to frequently use white and silver, you’ll have to unzip the disc to switch between them each time.

If you’re looking for an umbrella-shaped reflector, we like Westcott’s, which is solidly made and versatile. It features a sturdy, fiberglass shaft that has some flex but isn’t easily snapped and a removable black cover. This means you can either use it to reflect light or expose the white shell to use as a shoot-through. The shape provides excellent light distribution and is a reliable way to soften a harsh light source. This umbrella also opens and closes with ease.

If you’re willing to spend more to really cut down on post-processing time, Glow’s curved reflector is an impressive tool that can tackle any imperfect lighting situation. You get an arc-shaped panel that you can cover with three included fabrics in silver, gold, and white. The 68-inch-long curved shape provides even and equalized lighting—a must-have for portraits. The shimmery covers deliver on durability and strong reflective power to flatter a variety of skin tones, and they are very easy to switch out in a pinch. You can also mount the reflector on a tripod.

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